Asian Species Action Partnership

Organizational profile:
IUCN SSC Asian Species Action Partnership (ASAP) is a partnership platform of over 200 organizations with the mission of ending species extinctions in Southeast Asia. For example, less than 10% of Southeast Asia’s forests are under some form of protection. ASAP supports Partners through a combination of funding, capacity development and tailored support so that they can deliver the impactful conservation that is essential to reverse the decline of species.
 
ASAP offers the ASAP Species Conservation Grant. Focusing on some of the most threatened species, ASAP catalyzes action for the Critically Endangered land and freshwater vertebrate species found in Southeast Asia (ASAP species*), many of which are neglected and lack the conservation attention that they desperately need. The ASAP Species Conservation Grants will support ASAP Partners in their efforts to conserve ASAP species and their habitats.

Financing Instrument: Grants

Project scale:
ASAP Species Conservation Grants: a maximum of USD10,000; projects should be completed within 18 months.

Recipient countries regions/country groups: Southeast Asia

Recipient categories:
Applying organisations must already be an ASAP Partner. Priority is given to national organisations from Southeast Asia. Projects must focus on conservation action for ASAP species. 

Eligibility Criteria:

ASAP Species Conservation Grants:

• The applicant organization must be an ASAP Partner at the time of submission. To apply to be an ASAP Partner, please visit https://www.speciesonthebrink.org/be-an-asap-partner/.
• The proposal must address conservation actions for ASAP species. For the full list of current ASAP species, please visit the ASAP website https://www.speciesonthebrink.org/species/
• Priority will be given to projects within Southeast Asia, but priority conservation actions for ASAP species outside this region will be considered where there is strong justification (such as, the proposed project is likely to deliver substantially greater benefit to the species’ conservation outlook than could be achieved by plausible, realistic, proposals for similar resources within Southeast Asia).
• Priority will be given to projects submitted by national organizations and those where the Project Lead is from the country in which the conservation actions take place.
• Priority will be given to species that are receiving less conservation attention globally than is average for ASAP species, and to applications making a clear case that the species in question is severely under-supported globally.

Eligible costs

• Salaries and other direct costs related to project activities are eligible.
• Meeting or workshop costs will be covered only if they are an essential component of the project i.e., are required for the project’s conservation outcome to be achieved.
• The following will not be covered: purchase of vehicles other than off-road bikes; general overheads (e.g. office rental, administrative staff etc.); student fees; administrative costs; international travel, registration and attendance of professional meetings and conferences not primarily related to ensuring the project’s outcomes.
• Purchase of equipment required for the implementation of the project is eligible. Details of the equipment, clear purpose and link to activities should be provided.
• Matching funds are not required as part of applications and will not increase the chances of being successful unless conservation outcomes cannot be achieved by the ASAP-funded component alone, and the matching funds are already secured.

Project Criteria:

• Applications should be for projects working on the conservation of ASAP species and their habitats, and should focus on direct conservation action. Both in situ and ex situ conservation interventions are eligible.
• A range of conservation activities are eligible. Interventions must benefit the conservation outlook of the species and activities could include: species and habitat protection whether within or outside protected areas; antipoaching; targeted support for protected areas or other conservation areas supporting the ASAP species; conflict mitigation and management etc.
• Clear justification is required as to how these activities will support ASAP species conservation and deliver conservation outcomes.
• Projects focused on the following are not eligible: research that is not built into a wider conservation programme which will use the results immediately; generalized conservation planning; wildlife trade other than the on-site suppression of offtake; and animal welfare or rights.
• Any proposals related to rehabilitation and release of animals should demonstrate how the activities will, as best as possible, follow IUCN Guidelines for Reintroductions and Other Conservation Translocations, notably in the attainment of a species-level conservation outcome.

Application guidelines:

ASAP Species Conservation Grants are made through open calls:

• Interested applicants should complete the pre-proposal form which can be downloaded from ASAP website and submit this along with the CV of the project leader to conservationgrants@ASAPspecies.org.
• The ASAP Secretariat might be able to provide applicants with some technical/advisory support in developing the application and during the implementation period. This could be technical support in developing the project or application, ongoing mentoring during project implementation, and/or assistance in sourcing relevant training opportunities, depending on what the applicant requires. If applicants have any questions regarding a potential proposal or would like to receive support in completing an application, please email conservationgrants@ASAPspecies.org with the subject heading “ASAP Species Conservation Grants Support”.